Anime lingerie takes a walk on the wild side with GeGeGe no Kitaro fundoshi from Japan

GeGeGe no Kitaro is filled with characters and mytholgy drawn from Japan’s rich tradition of yokai folklore. First created in 1960 as a manga series by legendary Japanese writer and artist Shigeru Mizuki, GeGeGe no Kitaro revolves around the main character of Kitaro, a half-human, half-yokai who gets around with a large eyeball under his hair.

Joining Kitaro on his many adventures are some other supernatural spirits from the yokai world, one of which is a a character called Ittan Momen. Literally translating to “a tan of cotton” (one tan measures 30 centimetres by 10.6 metres, or 11.8 inches by 417 inches), Ittan Momen is a flying yokai, and according to Japanese folklore it flies through the sky at night, attacking people by wrapping itself around their necks and faces, smothering them to death.

The Ittan Momen that appears in GeGeGe no Kitaro is a lot kinder and friendlier, however, as it fights alongside Kitaro and his pals and often allows them to ride on its long, billowy cotton body. Now the friendly Ittan Momen from the hugely popular manga and anime series is ready to help you out too – as a fundoshi loin cloth.

See the fundoshi in action below.

The Ittan Momen fundoshi is the third item to be added to Premium Bandai’s “GeGeGe no Kitaro Lingerie” range, which previously introduced two anime lingerie sets for women. As the first “lingerie” product for men in the range, this is one of their most stunning designs yet, as the promotional video shows how the fundoshi wraps around your private parts, with the long front flap flying up to reveal the face of the cotton spirit, complete with little hands.

The fundoshi is worn in the same way as a traditional loincloth, with this four-step guide showing the process required to wear it.

▼ At 120 centimetres in length, the fundoshi is considerably shorter than the original yokai spirit that flies through the skies.

The character’s face is instantly recognisable to those familiar with the anime series, though, and if you don’t have an electric fan nearby to help your loincloth ghost come to life, you can always hold it up to reveal it in all its spooky beauty.

The Ittan Momen fundoshi retails for a very reasonable 2,700 yen (US$24.52), which means you’ll have more money to invest in Premium Bandai’s GeGeGe no Kitaro kimono cosplay. The fundoshi is currently available for pre-orders online now, with delivery scheduled for May.